Mrs. Cream Puff, San Francisco Bay Area
Age and Occupation: 25, Illustrator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Merchandise Planner
Engagement Date: May 27, 2007
Wedding Date: August, 2008
Blogging Since: February 7, 2008
Venue: Ceremony at Crissy Field and Reception at the Green Room
About Me: I never dreamed about my wedding as a little girl because I was too busy playing in the mud or pretending to be Martha Stewart–but now that it's here, I'm having a fabulous time DIYing everything in sight! We’re planning a very fun multicultural wedding (I'm Jewish and Mr. Cream Puff is Chinese), filled with as many personal details as I can muster.
Dancing Queen (and King)!
May 20th, 2008 @ 2:35 pm by Mrs. Cream Puff
Mr. Cream Puff and I suck at dancing. Actually, I don’t know that for a fact, as Mr. Cream Puff has pretty much refused to dance with me at the weddings and Bar Mitzvahs we have attended together. No more, I say! So we’ve decided to start dancing lessons (I swear, I did not force Mr. Cream Puff into this–he wanted to do it).
Last week we had our very first lesson at Two Left Feet in Danville, California. It was…hard. Actually, let me clarify: it was hard for Mr. Cream Puff, because the man’s part is the hardest. All I have to do is follow (and I am very good at it, haha!). Right now we are learning East Coast Swing, but we’ll be learning a lot of other dances as our lessons progress.
I am really excited about the music for our reception. The music was the one thing I had my mind totally made up on from the very beginning, and it was the one thing I really wanted to splurge on. We booked Martini Straight Up, both because I really wanted a party band and because they played at my cousin’s Bar Mitzvah and were AMAZING (I hadn’t met Mr. Cream Puff then, or he surely would have danced at THAT Bar Mitzvah!). They even had my dad dancing, which like, never happens. Every time I hear a song that will be played at our wedding (”To Be Real” by Cheryl Lynn is a big one for me–I love cheesy dance music), I get really excited and suddenly can’t wait.
The band is learning two new songs for us–the first is our first dance: “My First, My Last, My Everything,” by Barry White (this is “our” song, and Mr. Cream Puff used it for the proposal slideshow, too), and “I Loved Her First,” by Heartland, which is the song my dad wants to do dance to for our father/daughter dance. I’ve never heard the song in its entirety–just the itunes snippet makes me cry hysterically. I am hoping I’ll be able to make it through the song on our actual wedding day without going into the Ugly Cry!
What has gotten you really excited about your wedding? Anything else I should be thinking about to pump myself up, excitement-wise?
9 Responses to “Dancing Queen (and King)!”
I just have to say that I heart you for saying you love “To Be Real” — that is one of my favorite songs ever. Yes, it is cheesy but it always puts a huge smile on my face and makes me feel sassy 
And I think you are truly awesome for having a Barry White song as your first dance. Niiiice!
My bff got us dancing lessons as an engagement present and we cannot wait to start! Thanks for this post — now, THAT’S what I’m excited for
We are also taking dancing lessons - starting with ballroom two-step (more easy more better). FI was a little discouraged after the first lesson - apparently it only just occurred to him that I already know how to dance, and mostly he is there to learn. But tonight is our third lesson, and he is actually having fun. He’s got a bunch of stuff on his iPod for us to practice to! Our band is one of the most exciting things about the reception for me too.
i loved her first. what a tear wrencher..
you can listen to the entire “I Loved Her First” song on Heartland’s MySpace page.
http://www.myspace.com/heartlandcountry
i had never heard it, but based on the title alone and your reaction I had to go find it. what a great choice by your dad!
hehe, suzanno– we kind of are in the same boat. I wanted us to take dancing lessons but realized that what I really want is for mr beanchar to learn to dance, since I am already a maniac on the floor 
.
We’ve actually found someone who gives individual lessons in her home studio or will come to your house.
Now we just have to find time for mr beanchar’s personalized dance boot camp. (And we’ll do a few together after that to re-train me from trying to lead all the time )
I’ve taught quite a few engaged couples to dance for their wedding, and one big suggestion I have is to take group dance lessons together before private lessons. In a group environment, there’s a lot of repetition (good!), you have the chance to dance with other people (and avoid reinforcing each other’s bad habits), and there’s less pressure because the focus isn’t all on you.
I’ve seen a big difference in how fast people learn in a group environment vs. private. And rotating during class (switching partners) is really a good idea…you want to learn to dance with your FI, *but* you’ll both get better faster when you rotate.
After you’ve got the hang of it, you can take a private lesson to get some help on choreographing a wedding dance.
Thanks, you guys!!!
@ MissBanana–we were told this by our teacher, too. I am scared of the group lessons, but I think I need to buck up. Thanks!
